Hong Kong (AsiaNews) – After newspapers, pro-democracy groups and trade unions, a well-known sociological research institute in Hong Kong is now a target under its "national security" law, not for its work but for “providing assistance” to a wanted person.
Police took Robert Chung, president and chief executive officer of the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (HKPORI), from his home to the institute’s offices where they carried out a search, after which Chung was brought to the police station for questioning.
Security Minister Christ Tang said that the pollster “was suspected of using his own company to render assistance to a wanted person”.
While not expressly mentioned, Tang was probably referring to Chung Kim-wah, HKPORI’s former deputy president who taught social sciences at the Hong Kong Polytechnic. A warrant for his arrest and that of five other pro-democracy activists living abroad was issued on 24 December 2024 for online secessionist propaganda.
A one million Hong Kong dollar bounty is also offered to anyone for information leading to his capture.
Minister Tang defended the raid at the Public Opinion Research Institute. "This has nothing to do with any research being done by Chung or his organisation,” he said. “At this moment in time, Chung has not been arrested," he added .
Police took away several trolleys of items and computer servers from HKPORI headquarters.
Chung Kim-wah’s contract with HKPORI ended in April 2022. After an arrest warrant was issued against him, Robert Chung said the institute had little contact with him since he left.
He explained that HKPORI operated within the law, assessing all legal implications before undertaking any activity, and that its work posed no risks to national security.
The institute was set up in May 2019, breaking away from the University of Hong Kong where it operated as the Public Opinion Programme (POP).
Robert Chung always defended the neutrality of opinion polls and actively promoted data sharing and freedom of information.
Reacting to today's events, Chung Kim-wah posted a statement on his Facebook page in which he says that he had not spoken to Robert Chung since he left Hong Kong in April 2022, except during a press conference held by HKPORI at the end of that month to exchange holiday greetings.
